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I hated driving.
I literally detested the whole ordeal.
I detested and feared it so much that the rust-bucket of an Opal Corsa that my father had done up and given to me back in September for my seventeenth birthday remained parked at the garage.
That’s right; I was so fearful of driving a moving vehicle, that I didn’t want it anywhere near my house.
Unlike a lot of other places, the law was pretty relaxed in Ireland regarding learner drivers. Basically, you took a theory test, got your green license from the tax office, and off you went. We didn’t need to undertake a shit ton of lessons or abide by a million laws like my cousins in London had to. Hell, my own mam had been driving on her green license for twenty years now. The Gards always looked the other way. It was no biggie.
The only damn reason I had applied for my provisional driving license was so that I would have photo I.D to go out drinking with when I turned eighteen next year.
I didn’t want it todrive, but that’s exactly what my father assumed I would do.
“I hate to point out the obvious, Molloy, but when a shop door’s locked, and the lights are out, it means the place is closed.”
Joey’s familiar voice filled my ears, and I quickly swung around to see him coming from the side of the building.
“Jesus,” I whisper-hissed, startled to see him in the darkness. “What are you doing out here?”
“Locking up,” he replied dryly. “If you’re looking for your old man, you’re out of luck,” he added, as he used a set of keys to lock the side gate behind him. “He went on the beer with the rest of the lads at lunchtime.”
I feigned sadness. “And they didn’t take you?”
“Sadly not.”
“I suppose you need to turn eighteen to enjoy the full perks of the job, huh?”
He smirked. “I need to turn seventeen first before that can happen.”
“That’ll be soon, right? Your birthday is close to Christmas, right?”
“Yeah,” he agreed, sliding his work keys into his pocket. “Christmas day.”
“That’s so shitty,” I groaned, feeling a flash of sympathy for him. “I bet you’ve been cheated out of so many presents down through the years, with the whole two-for-one gift bullshit.”
“I can’t say that I’ve ever noticed, Molloy,” he replied. “I’m not the present counting type.”
“Well, you’re a better person than I am, Joey Lynch, because I would cause ructions if I had to share my birthday with Jesus.”
Joey laughed, actually laughed a genuine laugh, as he closed the space between us. “So, are you going to ask me, or are we going to stand out here all night?”
My heart flipped in my chest. “Ask you what?”
“To walk you home.”
“Okay.” I blew out a shaky breath. “Walk me home, Joey Lynch.”
“That’s telling,” he teased, leaning against the door, as he smiled down at me, green eyes dark and full of heat. “You need to ask nicely.”
My god, it was something else when that boy smiled.
He was just so beautiful.
“I have a better idea,” I heard myself say, and then I did something incredibly fucking reckless. Reaching into my coat pocket, I withdrew the set of car keys and jingled them in front of his face. “How about you drive me, instead?”
Even though he was the master of concealing his emotions, Joey couldn’t mask the excitement that flashed in his eyes. “I won’t be seventeen for two more days. I only have a tractor license until then.”
“That’s true,” I agreed, watching his gaze flick from my face to the keys and then back to me. “So that means that we’ll be breaking the law, doesn’t it?” I taunted, giving the keys a little rattle. “But, then again, when has that ever stopped you?”
